Services will be provided and implemented at Ward Bayou Wildlife Management Area. Ward Bayou WMA lies just south of Pascagoula River WMA and consists of 13,234 acres of mostly bottomland hardwoods in Jackson County, Mississippi. The majority of Ward Bayou WMA is also prone to periodic flooding dependent on river levels. Timber harvests in the early '90s on the WMA resulted in a prolific invasion of Chinese tallow tree at harvest sites, which inhibited regeneration of desirable tree species on about 400 acres. These harvest sites are still heavily infested with tallow tree. Approximately 800 acres of the WMA are comprised of upland habitat with a focus on longleaf pine regeneration. Cogongrass is present throughout the upland site and poses a major threat to management goals. The north end of this transition zone consists of an area of longleaf pine forest restoration. During breeding season, a number of key southeastern species can be found across the bottomlands. A representative selection would include Swallowtailed Kite, Mississippi Kite, Acadian Flycatcher and Yellow-throated Warbler, Swainson's Warbler, Kentucky and Prothonotary Warblers. A remarkable number and variety of rare sparrows such as Grasshopper, Le Conte's, White-crowned and Fox have been found in the longleaf pine restoration area. This site is recognized by the National Audubon Society as an important bird area. Ward Bayou WMA is owned by the US Army Corp of Engineers and managed by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks
